NNENNA FREELON — Maiden Voyage (1998) Two Version | FLAC (image+.tracks+.cue), lossless

Nnenna Freelon's fifth CD should establish her as one of the top jazz singers of the 1990s. Rather than stick to typical jazz standards, she explore women's songs (or at least lyrics) from many fields of music. Her compelling interpretation of the title track, with its infrequently heard lyric by Mrs. Herbie Hancock, is followed by a hypnotic original lyric written by Freelon for Marian McPartland's "Threnody," titled "Sepia Wing" in its vocal incarnation. One of the more unusual songs selected is folk singer Buffy Saint-Marie's "Until It's Time for You to Go"; Freelon drastically rearranged this tune by changing the melody line and adding an uptempo vamp, and Bob Mintzer's soprano sax accents are also a nice touch. The moody lament written by the late Laura Nyro, "Buy and Sell," is also an intriguing chart by the singer. Of course, she's no slouch with standard Broadway fare either, as her lively duet with guitarist Joe Beck proves. Ken Dryden

Tracklist :

1 Come Into My Life 5:22

Written-By – Nona Hendryx

2 Four Women 4:54

Written-By – Nina Simone

3 Maiden Voyage 8:26

Lyrics By – Jean Hancock

Music By – Herbie Hancock

Piano – Herbie Hancock

4 Buy And Sell 5:29

Written-By – Laura Nyro

5 Future News Blues 4:43

Written-By – Nnenna Freelon

6 Until It's Time For You To Go 6:00

Written-By – Buffy Sainte-Marie

7 Women Be Wise 8:08

Written-By – Sippie Wallace

8 Sepia Wing 5:46

Lyrics By – Nnenna Freelon

Music By – Marian McPartland

9 Pick Yourself Up 4:09

Lyrics By – Dorothy Fields

Music By – Jerome Kern

10 I Won't Dance 4:33

Lyrics By – Dorothy Fields, Jimmy McHugh, Oscar Hammerstein II, Otto Harbach

Music By – Jerome Kern

11 Inside A Silent Tear 4:30

Lyrics By – Linda Albert

Music By – Blossom Dearie

12 Sing Me Down 4:18

Written-By – Nnenna Freelon

Credits :

Bass Clarinet – Bob Mintzer (tracks: 2, 4, 7)
Cello – Jesse Levy (tracks: 2, 4)
Double Bass – Avishai Cohen (tracks: 1-6, 12), Peter Washington (tracks: 8, 10, 11)
Drums – Clarence Penn (tracks: 8, 10, 11), Danny Gottlieb (tracks: 1-6, 12)
Flute – Dave Valentin (tracks: 8, 10)
Guitar – Joe Beck (tracks: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12)
Percussion – Sammy Figueroa (tracks: 1-6, 8, 10, 11, 12)
Piano – Michael Abene (tracks: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12)
Soprano Saxophone – Bob Mintzer (tracks: 1, 6)
Tenor Saxophone – Dick Oatts (tracks: 10, 11)
Trombone – Ed Neumeister (tracks: 10)
Vocals – Nnenna Freelon

MALENE MORTENSEN — Date with a Dream (2005) Two Version | APE (image+.cue), lossless + FLAC (tracks) 24-44.1Hz

Malene Mortensen emerged on the Danish jazz scene with her 2003 recording debut as a leader for Universal in Europe, following it up with this release for Stunt. With her fresh, engaging vocals and the potential to establish a following in both jazz and pop like Norah Jones, Mortenson isn't really an improviser, but she works with top-notch musicians who create fresh arrangements of standards, while she also proves herself to be a capable composer. Of particular interest are her interpretations of standards, including the sensuous, slowly savored "I've Got a Date with a Dream" (where she's backed by her trio plus strings and a lap steel player) and a heartfelt "At Last" (backed by pianist Kasper Villaume and soprano saxophonist Claus Waidtlow). She soars in Villaume's imaginative post-bop arrangement of "Take Five," displaying her soulful side. Mortenson's originals are more pop-oriented, though still catchy and entertaining, especially her infectious "Off the Beat." Ken Dryden
Tracklist :
1    I've Got A Date With A Dream 4:28
Written-By – Harry Revel, Mack Gordon
2    All I Want 3:58
Written-By – Joni Mitchell
3    Egyptian Moonlight 5:44
Written-By – Anna Lia Bright, Malene Mortensen, Michael Sunding
4    Blur 5:31
Written-By – Anna Lia Bright, Magnus Hjorth, M. Mortensen
5    At Last 4:11
Arranged By – Kasper Villaume, Maiken Ingvordsen
Written-By – Harry Warren, Mack Gordon
6    Take Five 5:25
Written-By – Iola Brubeck, Paul Desmond
7    Mystery Man 3:50
Arranged By [Horns] – Magnus Hjorth
Written-By – Anna Lia Bright, Malene Mortensen, Michael Sunding
8    Giving You The Best That I've Got 3:28
Written-By – Anita Baker, Randy Holland, Skip Scarborough
9    Off The Beat 3:41
Written-By – A.L. Bright, M. Hjorth, Malene Mortensen
10    Gone Before We Know 3:16
Written-By – Avishai Cohen, Malene Mortensen, Marianne Søgård Andersen
11    Crashed 5:45
Written-By – Anna Lia Bright, Magnus Hjorth, Malene Mortensen
Credits :
Arranged By [Strings] – Kasper Villaume
Bass – Avishai Cohen
Cello – Wiebke Vestergaard
Drums, Percussion – Morten Lund
Lap Steel Guitar, Acoustic Guitar – Boi Holm
Piano, Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes], Glockenspiel – Kasper Villaume
Saxophone – Claus Waidtløw, Marius Neset
Trombone – Anders Larsson
Trumpet, Cornet – Kasper Tranberg
Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Keyboards [Additional] – Lasse Nilsson
Viola – Nanna Gangelhof
Violin – Lisbeth Sagen
Vocals – Malene Mortensen